Prepare Your Commercial Business Location

Zoning

Within the city limits, zoning establishes the permitted uses for a property, along with associated site development regulations like setbacks, height, landscaping, and lot coverage. Zoning helps provide for safe, orderly, healthful, and coordinated development of the City by conserving existing and future developments, protecting the value of real property, and facilitating adequate and efficient transportation, water, wastewater, schools, parks, emergency and recreational facilities, and other public requirements. The City does not regulate the use of property in the ETJ. Travis County issues permits in the ETJ.

You can locate your property on the interactive zoning map to determine its current zoning. (PDF version) 

You can determine permitted and conditional uses for your property with the zoning guide.

More Information

http://www.cityofmanor.org/page/ds_zoning

If the site for your property must be re-zoned, you must go through the zoning process. The steps of the zoning process are as follows:

1. Determine current zoning of the property.

2. Submit an application with MyPermitNow, which should include: Does the deed include all that follows, or must those be obtained separately?

• Your deed of ownership.
• Tax map showing property owners within 300 feet. 
• Mailing labels of property owners within 300 feet.
• If there is not a lot and block description, metes and bounds survey description of the property or area to be rezoned.
• An application fee .

3. Once the application is submitted, the request for re-zoning will be scheduled for the next Planning Commission meeting. 

• Complete and paid for zoning applications will be scheduled for the next Planning Commission date. Planning Commission meets the second Wednesday of every month at 6:30 PM at City Hall.

4. The Planning Commission will make a recommendation to the City Council. City Council will hear the request twice.

Fees and Timeline:

The re-zoning process generally takes about 60 days. 

The cost to submit a plan is $465 + $30 per acre, plus $5 per property owner within 300 feet. These fees are due when [insert this information here].

Submittal Requirements

More Information:

http://www.cityofmanor.org/page/ds_zoning

PUD Zoning Process

The goal of the Planned Unit Development district is to encourage imaginative and innovative designs for the development of property in the City that remain consistent with City Ordinances and accepted urban planning. Code of Ordinances relating to PUDs.

In order to obtain a PUD approval, you must: 

1. Set up a consultation with city staff. Email sdunlop@cityofmanor.org or call (512) 272-5555.

2. Submit a Preliminary PUD Site Plan 

• This plan will show the location and mix of proposed uses, points of ingress and egress, parking areas, building locations and height, lot coverage, open spaces, landscaping, topography, and relationship to adjacent property. 
• Once approved by city engineers, the Preliminary PUD Site Plan must be recommended by the Planning Commission, then approved twice by City Council.

3. Submit a Final PUD Site Plan 

• The final plan must contain all details required for development, subdivision, zoning, and enforcement of special conditions and regulations.
• Once approved by city engineers, the Final PUD Site Plan must be recommended by the Planning Commission, then approved twice by City Council.

4. Upon approval of the Final PUD Site Plan, the area will be officially zoned as PUD, along with any conditions and limitations defined by the PUD agreement.

Fees and Timeline:

The PUD Zoning process generally takes six to nine months. City engineers will issue comments within 30 days of submittal of both the preliminary and final plan.

The cost to submit a PUD Site Plan is $625 + $40 per acre. These fees are due when you submit the Preliminary PUD Site Plan.

The Travis County Fire Code requires businesses to obtain a permit from the Travis County Fire Marshal’s Office before beginning construction. This rule applies to new commercial and public buildings, as well as any existing facility for which use has changed, or that will sustain 50 percent or greater alteration after construction or renovation.

This Certificate of Compliance is required to open a facility to the general public. 

How do I obtain a permit?

Download the Permit Application and review the Permit Application Guidelines. To meet with a Plan Reviewer before starting the permitting process, call the Travis County Fire Marshal's Office at (512) 854-4621 to make an appointment. 

More Information:
Travis County Fire Marshal: Permitting & Compliance 

Travis County Fire Marshal: Frequently Asked Questions

The Sign Ordinance regulates business signage within the City of Manor and the ETJ, and businesses are required to obtain a permit for most permanent signs. The objective of the Sign Ordinance is to maintain and enhance the community's overall aesthetic environment, to minimize possible adverse effects of signs on nearby public and private property, and to improve pedestrian and traffic safety.

A sign may only be erected, placed, established, painted, created, or maintained in a manner that conforms with the Sign Ordinance.

Some types of temporary signs, such as banners, may also require a permit. For more information on the permitting of signs, contact the Development Services Department.

What are the requirements for submitting a sign permit application?

• Provide a drawing of the sign including Height, Width and Copy.
• Provide a Plot Plan or Site Plan showing the location of any proposed signs not attached to any building.
• Provide a drawing of the elevation of the building and the location of any sign attached to a building.

All signs that are a part of a uniform or unified sign plan approved by the Planning Commission must indicate compliance with the approved plan. 

How long does it take to receive a sign permit?

It generally takes about 10 business days to obtain a permit. However, sign permits requiring a Uniform or Coordinated Sign Plan approval will take longer due to application processes that include Planning Commission approval. The Planning Commission meets once a month.

This content is adapted from the Development Services Department website.

The City of Austin Jurisdictions Web Map allows you to validate Street and Addressing information for the City of Austin, Travis County, and areas of Williamson, Hays and Bastrop counties within the City of Austin jurisdiction.

Addressing information includes:

• Valid Address Notation
• Jurisdiction
• Austin City Council District
• Annexation History

Enter your address at the Jurisdictions Web Map. If it is listed on this map, then Addressing has assigned it. If it is not, you must have your address assigned.

To have your address assigned:

Information can be found on the City of Austin Address Management Services site. Here, you are able to request a new address assignment for your property. 

In order to operate a food establishment, you must obtain a permit from the City of Manor. The steps to obtain this permit are as follows:

1. Make a written application for a permit on forms provided by the City of Manor. This application should contain: 

• Name/Address of Applications
• Address and type of proposed establishment
• Zoning District of location
• Fee ($375.00)

2. Pass an Inspection

The City will inspect the proposed food establishment to determine compliance with state laws and rules and the city's zoning regulations.

Renewal and Transfers:

This permit needs to be renewed annually. Permits are not transferable from one person to another or from one location to another location, except as otherwise permitted by this article. A valid permit must be posted in or on every food establishment, as regulated by this article.

In order for your business to serve alcohol, the City must issue you a permit and sign off on the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission (TABC) application. Procedures for obtaining this permit are as follows:

• Contact the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission (TABC) for an application. (Note: there are new TABC changes as of Sept.1, 2021)
• Complete the City of Manor Alcoholic Beverage Permit Application.
• File both of these completed applications with the City Secretary's Office.
• When the TABC (state) application is approved, bring your license or temporary receipt to the City Secretary's Office and pay the City Fee, which is one-half of the State Fee.

The City Secretary will contact the applicant when the TABC application has been approved and also when the City Permit is ready for pick up. Based on the type of permit the TABC approves, the City permit must be renewed every year or every two years. The City Permit and Receipt must be posted with the State permit at the place of business.

More Information:

http://www.cityofmanor.org/page/cs_alcoholic_permit

To sell alcoholic beverages, you need to obtain an Alcoholic Beverage Permit from the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission (TABC). 

Before you begin, you must determine which TABC License Your Business Needs. Texas operates under a three-tier system. You can choose to be a manufacturer, distributor/wholesaler, or retailer. Pick the right license or permit for your business by visiting the TABC website here. 

For more information: 

The TABC offers a licensing course: https://www.tabc.texas.gov/texas-alcohol-laws-regulations/tabc-education/